Sample taking device



Nov. 3, 1931. a. J. BARRETT ET AL v1,830,012

SAMPLE TAKING DEVICE" F'iled Jan. 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l amnion 2mm mitam Nov. 3, 1931.

G. J. BARRETT ET AL SAMPLE TAKING DEVICE Filed-Jan Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE J. BARRETT, OF BEAUMONT, AND SOS'IHENE ROBIGHAUX, OF SARATOGA, TEXAS SAMPLE TAKING nnvrcn Application filed January 15, 1929. Serial No. 332; 694.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a sample taking device.

One object of the invention is to provide a sample taking device for taking cores, or samples, of the strata being pierced in drilling wells, and comprehends, in particular, a novel type of core barrel in the drilling tool to receive the core'or sample and which may be locked and retained therein while drilling 1 and removed therefrom whenit is desired to inspect the core, or sample, taken.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sample taking device which comprises .a tubular drill stem and a' drill bit attached to a the lower end thereof and having a bore throughwhich the sample may pass, with a core barrel in said tool aligned with said bore and whose lower end forms a water tight joint with aseat in the bit, said-tool having water 2 channels leading from said stem above said seat through which flushing fluid may be discharged from the stem to flush out the bore, but excluded from theicore barrel and the sample being taken.

The apparatus further comprehends means for locking the core barrel in the tool and for holding the lower end thereof yieldingly against sald seat, as well as means for excluding the flushing fluid from the lower end of the barrel and for utilizing the pressure of said fluid to hold said barrel against said seat, in drilling.

A still further feature of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described which may be utilized as a drilling tool only, when a sample of the strata being pierced is not desired.

With the above and other objects in view this invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts an example of which is given in this specificationand illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figures 1 and 2 show a vertical sectional view of the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the sample taking device with the drivin stem removed. igure 3 shows a side view of the lower end thereof.

Figure 4 shows a vertical sectional view of -ly into the chamber 6 an channels 7 the lower end of the drilling tool showing a removable center drill which works through the bore 9f the drill bit.

Figure 5 shows a side elevation partly in section of a drive collar employed, and

Figure 6 shows a bottom end view thereof. Referring now. more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral 1 designates an elongated tubular drill collar employed to the lower end of which is attached a tubular coupling 2 whose lower end has an externally threaded pin 3 which is screwed into the internally threaded box 4 in the shank of the drill bit 5. Within the coupling 2 there is an enlarged chamber 6 and leading downwardly from this chamber and through the shank of the bit and terminating on the sides of the bit blade are the water channels 7. The coupling 2 beneath said chamber 6 has an axial bore 3 which extends on down through the bit and near the lower end of the bit is reduced forming an internalannular seat 9. The lower end of the bit is preferably formed with the cutting edges 10, 10 and around the bore 8 are the core forming teeth 11. The lower end of a long tubular coupling 12 has an externally threaded pin 13, which is screwed into the internally threaded box 14 at the upper end of the drill collar and connected to the upper end of-the coupling 12 there is a suitable collar or tool joint 15 provided for the connection of a tubular driving stem (not shown) tothe device. Within the drilling tool above described there is a core barrel 16 whose lower end is formed to seat closely against the seat 9 and this core barrel. carries a downwardly tapering packer 17 preferably of resilient material, which seats in the downwardly converging seat 18 in the coupling 2 beneath the chamber 6. The lower end of the core barrel fits closely in the bore 8 but is of considerably less outside diameter than the diameter of the fluid passageway 19 through the drill collar and coupling 12 so as to provide passageway for the flushin fluid downward out through the Telescoping into the upper end of the barrel 16 there is a rod 20 and said end of the barrel has inwardly projecting keys 12 whose inner ends work in the keyways 22 of said rod and surrounding said rod and interposed between the upper end of the barrel 16 and the lower end of the housing 23, to which the rod is attached, there is a c011 spring 24:. The housing 23 is fitted snugly through a central opening in the drive collar 25 which is screwed into the lower end of the coupling 12 and which has the passageways 26 therethrough providing for the passageway of the flushlng fluid downwardly through said collar.

The housing 23 has the blade like dogs 27, 27 pivotally mounted at their lower ends therein and whose outer edges converge downwardly and said dogs are normally held projecting from said rod by suitable resilient seats provided for the purpose.

There is a conical head 28 at the upper end of said housing for the purpose of engagement with a conventional grappling tool by means of which the core barrel may be lowered into or withdrawn from the drilling tool above described.

While drilling, if it be desired to take a sample of the stratum being pierced, the core barrel may be lowered down through the drill stem by a suitable conventional fishing tool until the lower end of the barrel rests against the seat 9 with the packing 17 restin in the seat 18. The barrel is lowered t rough driving collar 25, fitting closely therein, and when the lower end of the barrel is seated against the seat 9 the weight of the housing 23 andthe fishing tool connected thereto will move said housing on downwardly compressing the'spring 25 until the locking dogs have passed through said collar and these dogs will then move downwardly and engage underneath said collar to lock the core barrel in position. The spring 24.- will hold the lower end of the barrel in close contact with the seat 9 and the acking 17 will prevent the flushing fluid om passing down around the lower end of the core barrel and such fluid as may leak past the packin will be excluded from the core seat 9 so that there will be no danger of the sample or core being washed out of the core (barrel. The drive collar 25 has a depending driving arm 29 which engages against one of the dogs 2 and forces the housing 23 to rotate with the drilling tool. The rod 20 is .attached to said housing and the core barrel being splined to said rod will also rotate. As the core is formed it will pass up into the core barrel spreading the inwardly converging flexible fingers 30 in the lower end of said barrel and when the sample is in the barrelgjt will be trapped by said fingers therein. 7

There is an upwardly opening valve 31 controlling the upper end of the core barrel which prevents the drilling fluid from entering said barrel from above but permits the escape of fluid which may be in the barrel as the sample enters from beneath and this escaping fluid will pass out through the opening 32 in the barrel above said valve.

While the sample is being taken drilling fluid' will be forced under pressure, down through the driving stem and through the sample taking lapparatus around the core barrel and the pressure of this fluid against the packer 17 will hold the same firmly seated and will holdthe lower end of the barrel seated against the seat 9 and said flushing fluid will pass out through the channel 7, 7 and on to the bottom of the bore without contaminating the sample within the core barrel.

When the sample has been taken it may be withdrawn without withdrawing the drill stem and drilling tool in a manner to be hereinafter explained.

In case a sample of the formation is not desired, a center drill 33 may be substituted for the lower section of the core barrel and whose lower end fits closely through the bore "8 and is formed with the abrading teeth 34 to cut away the center of the bore in ordinary drilling.

When it is desired to remove the core vbarrel or the center bit 33, as the case may be, a

fishing tool may be lowered by a suitable cable and engaged with the head 28 and an upward pull will operate to release the dogs 27 from the drive collar 25 and said barrel with the sample therein or said center bit, as the case may be, may be withdrawn to the ground surface without withdrawing the drill stem and drilling tool.

The specific means whereby the dogs 27 may be en aged with or releasedj from the driving cofiar 25 have-not been specifically shown and described herein for the reason that said means are fully shown and described in our copending application on core taking device filed July 2, 1928, under Serial Number 289,893.

It should be here noted that the flushing fluid is laden with sand and grit and is forced downwardly under considerable pressure and the fluid passageways 26 are important forthe reason that this gritty drilling fluid may freely pass down through said passageways and will thus be kept away from the housing 23 and the dogs 27 and will not so readily abrade away the same at this point.

What we claim is: I

1. A sample taking device including a tubular drivin member, a drill bit at the lower end thereof aving a bore to permit the inlet of a sample, an inside seat, a sample receiving barrel in said driving member aligned with said bore and whose lower end rests on said seat, means for holding said end yieldingly against said seat, packing means forming a fluid tight joint between the drivingmember and barrel, and releasable means for locking said barrel in said driving member.

3. A sample taking device including a tubular driving member, a bit at the lower end thereof, said driving member having a bore which continues on down through the bit and is provided with an upper and a lower seat, a core barrel -in said driving member whose lower end rests on said lower seat, a packer on the barrel which rests on said upper seat.

4. A sample taking device including a tubular driving member, a bit at the lower end thereof, said driving member having a bore which continues on down through the bit and is provided with an upper and a lower seat, a core barrel in said driving member whose lower end rests on said lower seat, a packer on the barrel which rests on said upper seat,

and means holding said barrel and packer against said respective seats.

5. A sample taking device including a tubular driving member, a bit at the lower end thereof, said driving member having a a packer on the barrel which rests on said upper seat, and means holding said barrel and packer yieldingly against said respec tive seats.

6. A sample taking deviceincluding a tubular driving member, a bit at the lower end thereof, said driving member having a bore which continues on down through the bit and is provided with an upper and a lower seat, a core barrel in said driving member whose lower end rests on said lower seat, a packer on the barrel which rests on said upperseat, said device having a channel therethrouh, through which drilling fluid may be forced under pres-. sure to the bit, said packer being exposed to the pressure of said fluid.

7. A sample taking device including a tubular driving member, a bit at the lower end thereof having a vertical bore, an internal seat in said device, a core barrel in the driving. member, a packer on'the barrel seated against said seat, there being a channel said packer being exposed to the pressure of said fluid.

8. A sample taking device including a tubular driving member, a bit at the lower end thereof having a vertical bore, an internal seat in said device, a .core barrel in the driving member, a packer on the barrel seated against said seat, there being a' channel through the driving member which leads out from above said packer and through which drilling fluid may be forced under pressure,

said packer being exposed to the pressure of said fluid, said member being provided with an internal seat against which the lower end of said barrel is seated. I

9. A sample taking device including a tubular driving member, a bit at the lower end thereof having a vertical bore, an internal seat in said device, a core barrel in the driving member, a packer on the barrel seated against said seat, there being a channel through the driving member which leads out from above said packer and through which drilling fluid may be forced under pressure,

said packer being exposed to the pressure of said fluid, said'member being provided with an internal seat against which the lower-end of said barrel is seated, and means holding said end of. said barrel yieldingly against said seat.

10. A sample taking device including a tubular driving member. a bit at the lower end thereof having a vertical bore, an annular member secured in said driving member and.

having a central bearing, a sample receiving device fitted through said bearing,-said an ascentral bearing and fluid passageways for flushing fluid around said bearing, a sample receiving device, including a core barrel, fitted through said bearing, a packing between the core barrel and driving member exposed to the pressure of said fluid.

12. A sample taking device including a tubular driving member, a drill bit at the lower end thereof having a vertical bore, an annular member in said driving member havin a central bearing and a fluid passageway around said bearing, a sample receiving device, including a core barrel, fittedthrough said bearing, and releasably secured in said driving member to rotate therewith, and

packing around the barrel forming a seal be-- tween the driving member and the barrel.

13. A sample taking device including a tubular driving stem, a drill at the lower end thereof having a passageway for the inlet of a sample of the formation being drilled, a sample receiving barrel in the stem-arranged to receive the sample passing inwardly through said passageway, a packing forming a fluid tight seal around said barrel and exposed to the pressure of a flushing fluid, there being a channel through which said flushing fluid may be conducted, from Within the stem, around said fluid tight seal, to the drill.

14. A sample taking device having a stem, a drill on the lower end of the stem, said drill having an axial bore which extends on up into the stem, a core barrel slidable in said stein downwardly into and upwardly out of said bore, said barrel having a core receiving chamber, packing around. the barrel which fits closely in said bore when the barrel is in its lower position to form a fluid tight joint, there being a channel through which a flushing fluid may be conducted from within the I stem around said joint to the drill.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

' GEORGE J. BARRETT.

SOSTHENE ROBICHAUX. 

